Which cannabis store is on Route 8, CT?
Hi! People Cannabis Market, at 90 Pershing Drive in Derby, is the cannabis store on Route 8, CT, off exit 13A. The ramp is signed for Pershing Drive and Ansonia, and it is a northbound exit and a southbound entrance. Exit 13A was exit 16 before Connecticut DOT began mileage based exit number signs on July 8, 2024. Our store page has hours and details.
Taking the exit, one turn at a time
Start in the northbound lanes and watch for exit 13A. The ramp is signed for Pershing Drive and Ansonia, not for the town our store is in, so look for the street name on the sign. Read the letter as well as the number: Seymour Avenue is exit 13B and Division Street is exit 14, and neither one is our turn.
From the end of the ramp the store is a short stretch away, and a map set to our street address will take you through the last turns to our lot.
Coming south from the Waterbury end, you cannot get off there, because the ramps are a northbound exit and a southbound entrance. Set your map to our street address before you leave. That southbound entrance helps when your way home runs south, since you can get back on heading south from our street.
Why saved directions show an older exit number
CTDOT's advisory on the Route 8 renumbering says mileage-based exit number signs will be added on Route 8, beginning July 8, 2024. If a saved trip, an old printout or a friend's text says exit 16, it points to the same ramp as exit 13A.
Some older directions to our store, including earlier descriptions of it, give exit 17. Go by the street name on the sign and the address on your map, not by that number.
The towns along the road
The advisory lists the signing work in Ansonia, Bridgeport, Derby, Shelton, Torrington, Waterbury, Beacon Falls, Harwinton, Litchfield, Naugatuck, Seymour, Thomaston, Trumbull, Watertown and Winchester. Northbound, Route 8 passes through Bridgeport and Trumbull and then Shelton before it reaches Derby, so drivers from those towns are already headed the right way. Starting in Shelton? The Shelton page covers that trip.
North of the exit, the road continues through Ansonia and Seymour, then Beacon Falls and Naugatuck, on its way to Waterbury. Drivers from that stretch come down southbound, the direction covered above. For the shorter trips, see the pages for Ansonia, Seymour, Beacon Falls and Waterbury.
If you are not driving
CTDOT's press release on the Waterbury Branch says substitute bus service will replace all train service from July 20, 2026, through May 31, 2027. It says the substitute service is effective for all weekday and weekend trains, and that all buses are accessible. We cannot say where a substitute bus stops in relation to our door, so check CTDOT before you plan a ride.
Parking at the store
We have free on-site parking, so there is no meter to feed and no garage to find. A January 2025 Valley Independent Sentinel report put the store at about 3,000 square feet with 90 parking spaces.
Once you are inside
Head toward the back of the showroom, where the Bud Bar needs no appointment. Read what to expect at the Bud Bar before you get in the car, or look over what we carry. On the floor, hosts with iPads can help you browse the menu and order.
Questions drivers ask about reaching the store
My directions say exit 16 or exit 17. Which ramp do I take?
Heading north, take the ramp signed for Pershing Drive, which is exit 13A today. An exit 16 direction is from before the renumbering. Some older directions to our store give exit 17, so go by the street name on the sign and the address on your map.
Can I get off Route 8 at our exit heading south?
No. The Pershing Drive ramps are a northbound exit and a southbound entrance, so set your map to our street address before you leave. A driver coming down from the Waterbury end needs another way in. Heading north, follow the signs for Pershing Drive and Ansonia.
Is there parking at the store?
Yes, we have free on-site parking. A January 2025 Valley Independent Sentinel report put the lot at 90 parking spaces. Order ahead from home or on your phone for in-store pickup, then park, walk in with your ID and collect it at the counter.
Can I get to the store by train?
Substitute buses stand in for trains right now, because CTDOT says that on the Waterbury Branch Line, substitute bus service will replace all train service from July 20, 2026, through May 31, 2027. We cannot say where a substitute bus stops. Check CTDOT's schedule first, and plan on driving if you need to arrive at a set time.
Do you take credit cards?
No. At this store you pay with cash or a debit card, and credit cards cannot be used. There is an on-site ATM if you need cash when you arrive. Bring valid government-issued photo ID too, because we are an adult-use cannabis store for adults 21 and older, whether you shop in the store or pick up an order.
How do I reach the store before I drive down?
Call us at 860-420-BUDS (2837) and we will answer questions about the trip. You can also order ahead on our live menu and collect at the counter. Our locations page lists every Hi! People store, and our FAQ page has more general answers.